As thousands of men gathered downtown Saturday to condemn domestic violence, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings vowed that the event would be a milestone in his crusade against abuse, not a victory lap.

The rally capped the first phase of a mayoral campaign to end domestic violence that, in only a few weeks, has prodded law enforcement to do more and called for cultural change. Rawlings enlisted a diverse lineup of speakers, including star athletes and religious leaders, who called on the crowd to practice non-violence in their daily lives.

“[This is] more than just a moment in time, but a movement that is going to change our times,” said Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in south Oak Cliff. “This is not just a moment where we are going to leave here feeling better. This is a movement where we are determined to leave here doing better.”

On a cold and rainy morning, the predominantly male crowd spread across the plaza outside Dallas City Hall. While the weather might have kept organizers from hitting their attendance goal of 10,000, at least half that showed up at the Dallas Men Against Abuse rally.

Looking more like sports fans than activists, the men waved white rally towels and chanted against domestic violence. Their mantra was simple: Real men don’t hit women — not once, not ever.

The rowdy atmosphere quickly turned somber.

Dale Hansen, longtime sportscaster for WFAA-TV (Channel 8), recalled how he was 7 years old when his mother woke him in the middle of the night and dragged him from the home. His father — a huge man with biceps the size of some men’s legs — had broken her nose.

“Never has such a big man looked so small,” Hansen said. “That’s what a man does when he hits a woman. He diminishes the woman; he diminishes himself even more.”

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant made a surprise appearance at the rally. Last year, Bryant was accused of assaulting his mother; she later decided not to pursue charges against him.

“I made a mistake,” Bryant said. “I just want everybody to know, it’s not good to hit women.”

Though he was visibly uncomfortable, he stood in front of thousands and challenged others to dispel violence from their lives.

Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr, one of the scheduled speakers, said he didn’t know his teammate would be speaking. But he said Bryant’s willingness to take responsibility for his actions “speaks volumes.”

Other prominent athletes attended, including NFL Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Roger Staubach. They spoke not as football legends, but as fathers, saying they want the next generation to understand what it means to be a man — and that it doesn’t include abusing women.

Some speakers used sports analogies to connect with the mostly male crowd. College Football Hall of Famer Don McPherson said that for men to avoid violence during arguments, they must do what athletes do to play their best during games: practice.

“Something so entrenched in our society doesn’t end in a rally,” McPherson said. “To perform in the heat of the moment, to perform when the lights come on, takes practice.”

Rawlings promised to continue his campaign beyond the rally. He said that he wants to engage the religious community to help counsel people in abusive relationships and that he hopes the Texas Legislature will pass laws that strengthen penalties for domestic violence.

The mayor also announced fundraising plans. He said the city needs more shelters and suggested that he might try to convert empty buildings into space for victims. He also said he’d like to see an education campaign make its way into youth organizations and businesses.

Those plans, though, will require funding, and Rawlings got a running start on that at the rally. Local resident Wayne Bisbee presented the mayor a $50,000 check.

The rally drew men of all ages and from all walks of life. Sons sat on their fathers’ shoulders and listened. Fraternity brothers attended together. There was a visible presence from the black, Hispanic and Muslim communities, many of whom came in groups organized by churches or mosques.

Kenneth Washington, an assistant principal at W.W. Samuell High School, brought about 20 students to the rally. He chose those he felt most needed to hear the message.

“I chose the ones I’ve seen in school grabbing onto a girl,” he said. “Or some of them already have daughters.”

Marcella Santillan, who works for the Brighter Tomorrows shelter, came with her son. She said her son’s father abused her, so it was important for the 11-year-old boy to hear the rally’s message. Her son held a poster on which he’d scribbled a message in red marker, “I lived to see my bright future!”

Santillan said that after she was abused, she felt alone. To see the men of Dallas support victims, she was nearly moved to tears. “It was like we were going to be united,” she said.

Haynes, the Friendship-West senior pastor, ended the rally with a stirring speech. He called upon the crowd to be not like a thermometer, which is changed by its environment, but like a thermostat, which changes the environment.

“A thermostat is hooked up to something that has the power to make a difference,” he said. “And that’s what we have.”

Then, thousands of men took an anti-domestic violence pledge. As they spoke in unison, their deep voices rose up and echoed into downtown Dallas.

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